John Allen (diplomat)

John Richard Allen is a New Zealand public servant. From 2009 to 2014 he served as chief executive of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He was the acting Administrator of Tokelau from 2009 until 2011.^[1]

John Allen
Allen in 2014
9th Chief Ombudsman
Incumbent
Assumed office 31 March 2025
Preceded by	Peter Boshier
Chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington
In office 1 January 2022 – 11 February 2025
Preceded by	Neil Paviour-Smith
Succeeded by	Alan Judge
Personal details
Born	John Richard Allen Hamilton, New Zealand
Alma mater	Victoria University of Wellington

Allen was born in Hamilton, New Zealand.^[2] He studied law in Wellington before becoming a partner at Rudd, Watts & Stone.^[2]

Allen had previous worked as chief executive of NZ Post. In April 2009 he was appointed chief executive of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade,^[3] becoming the first non-diplomat to lead MFAT.^[4] His tenure was controversial, with restructuring plans resulting in widespread opposition from staff,^[5] and in leaks of MFAT cables to the opposition.^[6] In 2014 he was forced to apologise to rape victim Tania Billingsley over his handling of the 2014 Malaysian diplomat indecent assault case.^[7] He resigned from the role in November 2014 to take up a role with the New Zealand Racing Board.^[8][9] He was replaced as chief executive by Brook Barrington.^[10]

In September 2019 he resigned from the racing board.^[11] In 2020 he was appointed chief executive of WellingtonNZ.^[12] In October 2021 he was elected chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington.^[13]

In January 2025, the Officers of Parliament Committee recommended that Allen be appointed as the next Chief Ombudsman.^[14] The appointment was confirmed by Parliament on 30 January,^[15] and Allen took office on 31 March 2025.^[16]